chapter 16 social psychology Flashcards
social psychologists
explore connections by studying how we think about, influence, and relate to one another
attribution theory
we explain someones behavior by crediting either the situation or the person’s disposition
dispositional attribution
aggressive personality
situational attribution
reaction to stress or abuse
fundamental attribution error
when analyzing another’s behavior to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition
overestimate influence of personality and underestimate influence of situations
effects of attribution
judging people in court, explaining poverty and unemployment, evaluate employees
attitudes
feelings influenced by our beliefs that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects people and events. if we believe someone is mean we feel dislike and act unfriendly
attitudes affect actions
central route persuasion
occurs when interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts
people are naturally analytical and involved in situation
peripheral route to persuasion
occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues such as a speaker’s attractiveness
make snap judgements, more superficial
foot in the door phenomenon
tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request
start small and build
role
set of explanations about a social position defining how those in the position ought to behave
cognitive dissonance theory
we act to reduce the discomfort we feel when two of our thoughts are inconsistent. when our awareness of our attitudes and of our actions clash we can reduce the resulting dissonance by changing our attitudes
rational: if i chose to do it or say it i must believe in it
chameleon effect
unconsciously mimicking others expressions postures and voice tones to help understand what they are feeling
mood linkage
sharing up and down moods
empathy
automatic mimicry
empathic people yawn more after seeing others yawn
conformity
adjusting ones behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard
increases when: one’s insecure, least 3 people, group is unanimous, group status and attractiveness is valued, culture encourages social standards
normative social influence
influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval
informational social influence
resulting from one’s willingness to accept other’s opinions about reality
social facilitation
stronger performance in the presence of others
on tougher tasks performance is hinders in front of others
crowding
jokes are funnier in a room full of people than just in front of a few people
social lofting
tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable
pull harder when you’re alone than when you have others on your team
deindividuation
loss of self awareness and self restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity
both arouses people and diminishes their sense of responsibility
people feel aroused and anonymous
more likely to kill or injure enemies when wearing a mask
group polarization
the enhancement of a groups prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group
discuss an idea that most of them either favor or oppose
can help to find faith or self help group, or, lead to prejudice
groupthink
desire for harmony in a decision making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives
you go along with groups idea in order to keep harmony so you don’t voice own opinion
